This post may contain affiliate links.
Nothing says the holidays are here quite like a warm mug in your hands and a house that smells like cinnamon and chocolate. These 30 hot chocolate recipes and holiday drinks cover everything from classic from scratch cocoa and slow cooker party batches to coffee shop lattes, homemade eggnog, big bowls of punch, and a few grown up sippers for after the kids are in bed. We even tucked in our favorite hot chocolate desserts and toppings, because a mug of cocoa is never complete without a little something on the side.
Homemade Hot Chocolate (Stovetop, Slow Cooker and Cocoa Bombs)
Classic Homemade Hot Chocolate
Real melted chocolate and a splash of cream make this stovetop cocoa rich, velvety, and a world away from the packet. It is the one our girls ask for the second the first cold snap rolls in. Get the recipe →
Grinch Hot Cocoa (Slow Cooker Christmas Hot Chocolate)
White chocolate melts low and slow in the slow cooker, then turns a bright, happy green that kids go wild for. Set it out with a topping bar for movie night and watch it disappear. Get the recipe →
White Hot Chocolate (Slow Cooker Recipe)
This creamy white hot chocolate simmers in the slow cooker with real white chocolate, milk, and a little vanilla. It is our first snow of the year tradition and it keeps warm for hours at a party. Get the recipe →
Easy Hot Cocoa Bombs Recipe (Peppermint Chocolate)
Shiny chocolate shells hide cocoa mix, mini marshmallows, and crushed peppermint until the hot milk hits. The slow motion crack open moment is pure magic, and they make the sweetest homemade gifts. Get the recipe →
Grown Up Hot Chocolate and Creamy Holiday Sippers
Easy Homemade Boozy Hot Chocolate Recipe
Our from scratch cocoa base gets a shot of vodka in every mug and a pile of whipped cream on top. It is the cozy nightcap for wrapping presents after the house finally goes quiet. Get the recipe →
Kahlua Hot Chocolate (Boozy White Hot Chocolate)
Just four ingredients turn white hot chocolate into a creamy coffee liqueur treat. It comes together on the stovetop in minutes and tastes like a holiday dessert in a mug. Get the recipe →
Cinnamon Roll Cocktail (Creamy RumChata Cinnamon Drink)
RumChata, Fireball, and a splash of cream shake up into a frosty glass that tastes exactly like a warm cinnamon roll. It is sweet, creamy, and a guaranteed hit at any holiday get together. Get the recipe →
Homemade Kahlua (Quick Coffee Liqueur Recipe)
This quick homemade coffee liqueur is ready in about half an hour instead of weeks. Pour it into pretty bottles with a ribbon and you have a last minute gift everyone will actually use. Get the recipe →
Coffee Shop Lattes and Homemade Eggnog
Homemade Gingerbread Latte (Starbucks Copycat Recipe)
Warm ginger, cinnamon, and molasses melt into your coffee for a latte that tastes like a gingerbread cookie. Since the coffee shops keep dropping it from the menu, we just make it at home. Get the recipe →
Easy Eggnog Latte Recipe (No Espresso Machine Needed)
Frothed eggnog poured over strong coffee with a dusting of nutmeg is the coffee shop classic in five minutes flat. No espresso machine needed, just the carton already sitting in your fridge. Get the recipe →
Copycat Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte
Real pumpkin and cozy spices go into this copycat that tastes just like the famous coffee shop favorite. Make a batch of the pumpkin base and you are set for mornings all season long. Get the recipe →
Easy Homemade Eggnog
Homemade eggnog is rich, creamy, and warmly spiced with nutmeg, and it is so much better than the carton. Our kids beg for a little glass with extra whipped cream every December. Get the recipe →
Homemade Chocolate Hazelnut Coffee Creamer
Five simple ingredients and five minutes turn your morning cup into a chocolate hazelnut treat. Keep a jar in the fridge all season and every cup of coffee feels like a holiday. Get the recipe →
Holiday Punch, Cider and Slow Cooker Wassail
Easy Slow Cooker Wassail
Apple cider, orange, lemon, and warm spices simmer together and fill the whole house with the smell of Christmas. Let it go in the slow cooker while you wrap presents and everyone can help themselves. Get the recipe →
Apple Cider Rum Punch
Honeycrisp apple cider, rum, orange juice, and cinnamon stir together into a big, cozy pitcher. It is our go to when friends are coming over and we want something festive without any fuss. Get the recipe →
Cranberry Orange Rum Punch Cocktail Recipe
Spiced rum, cranberry, and orange shake up into a bright, festive cocktail that looks gorgeous in the glass. It became our Christmas Eve signature drink the very first year we made it. Get the recipe →
Pomegranate Punch (Sparkling Citrus Holiday Punch)
Lemonade, club soda, and sparkling cider get loaded with citrus wheels and ruby pomegranate seeds. It is a zero proof punch everyone at the party can enjoy, and it is so pretty on the table. Get the recipe →
Christmas Punch (Creamy Eggnog Holiday Punch)
Creamy eggnog, cinnamon whisky, and warm spices get crowned with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. This five minute punch bowl is the one guests keep coming back to refill. Get the recipe →
Apple Cider Float (With Caramel and Vanilla Ice Cream)
Sparkling cider, a scoop of vanilla ice cream, and a ribbon of caramel make a two minute dessert drink. It is a fun, fizzy treat for kids and grown ups at any holiday party. Get the recipe →
Festive Christmas Cocktails and Mocktails
Easy Christmas Mocktails Recipe (Sparkling Mimosa Style)
These layered, sparkling mocktails come together in two minutes and look stunning in a flute. Lizzie felt like royalty with her own bubbly glass at Christmas dinner, and every kid at the table will too. Get the recipe →
Apple Cider Mimosas (Caramel Cinnamon Sugar Rim)
Chilled cider and champagne meet in a flute rimmed with caramel and cinnamon sugar. It is the cozy brunch drink we pour on Christmas morning while the cinnamon rolls bake. Get the recipe →
Cape Codder Cocktail (Classic Vodka Cranberry Recipe)
Crisp vodka and tart cranberry juice make the easiest two ingredient cocktail you can pour. Add a lime wedge and a few sugared cranberries and it is dressed up for any holiday party. Get the recipe →
Classic French 75 Cocktail
Gin and fresh lemon get shaken cold, then topped with crisp champagne for a cocktail that feels fancy without any fuss. It is the perfect toast for New Year’s Eve at home. Get the recipe →
Sparkling White Wine Sangria
Chardonnay, a splash of rum, apple cider, and fresh fruit fizz together into the prettiest pitcher at the party. Make it ahead and it only gets better while the fruit soaks. Get the recipe →
Hot Chocolate Treats and Toppings
Easy Hot Chocolate Dip (No Bake, 4 Ingredients)
Everyone’s favorite cozy winter drink becomes a rich, creamy dessert dip in just five minutes. Set it out with graham crackers and marshmallows at the cookie swap and watch it vanish. Get the recipe →
Hot Chocolate Cookies
Rich chocolate cookies get a fluffy marshmallow frosting on top so every bite tastes like a mug of cocoa. They are the first cookie we bake on the first snowy weekend of the year. Get the recipe →
Hot Chocolate Cake (Marshmallow Bundt)
Real hot cocoa mix goes right into the batter of this tender Bundt, along with chocolate chips and marshmallow bits. A glossy ganache on top makes it a showstopper for any holiday table. Get the recipe →
Chocolate Mug Cake (with Hot Cocoa Mix)
A packet of hot cocoa mix turns into a warm, gooey, single serving cake in about one minute. The molten marshmallow center makes it the best quick fix for a late night chocolate craving. Get the recipe →
Stabilized Chocolate Whipped Cream Recipe
This light, fluffy chocolate whipped cream holds its shape for days thanks to one easy trick. Pile it on your cocoa, your pie, or straight onto a spoon when no one is looking. Get the recipe →
Easy Homemade Maple Whipped Cream
Real maple syrup and a touch of maple extract whip up into a fluffy, cozy topping in five minutes. Spoon it over hot chocolate or a latte and it tastes like a crisp winter morning. Get the recipe →
Save These Hot Chocolate Recipes for the Holidays
Pin this list now so it is ready the first cold night of the season, the day of the cookie swap, and every Christmas movie night in between. Tell us in the comments which drink your family asks for every December. We love hearing how you make the holidays cozy at your house.
